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The Adaptive Church: Lessons from Evolution

The Adaptive Church: Lessons from Evolution

Whatever you may think of evolution and its place in a Christian understanding of creation, the science is clear that DNA does evolve and change. Humans, plants and animals make adaptations over time. Interestingly, we are now becoming more aware of how DNA can be changed through personal and generational trauma! Evolution is a characteristic of nature, but also of organizations like the Church. Many church leaders love to use the term ‘our DNA’ when talking about the cultu

Lost in a Crowd?

Lost in a Crowd?

Lakewood Church in Houston, TX. Photo by Amber Case. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 2.0 Generic License available here. While they’ve been around for a long time, megachurches have grown in popularity and influence. The Leadership Network reports that in Canada there are about 150 churches with weekly worship attendance of 1,000 or more. Together, these congregations draw 300,000 Canadians to worship each week. When we think about flo

“Can You Imagine A Church Where….”

“Can You Imagine A Church Where….”

I don’t know about you but sometimes I forget why I got into this in the first place. Sometimes I find I can lose my way and get focused on the wrong things. Sometimes it just seems like we are busy being busy and have forgotten the business we’re actually in! Ever felt that way?! Fortunately there are other times too though… Times where I can imagine and see a different reality, a church that is growing people into mature followers of Jesus and truly experiencing the power o

Weak Leaders make Weak Churches?

Weak Leaders make Weak Churches?

“I don’t know why anyone would come to our church.” The pastor’s voice faltered as he tried to control his emotions. “The music is terrible, sometimes there is no one there who even plays an instrument. People visit and they don’t come back.”It was 1995 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. I was interviewing pastors as part of my Ph.D. research. I had called this pastor several times, but he refused to meet with me in person. I think he was too ashamed. He could not understand how

Confessions of a Church Drifter

Confessions of a Church Drifter

I sat at the table in Starbucks across from Tara. From the start, I knew I was not in a welcoming conversation when she refused to order anything though she had chosen the venue. So I dutifully got myself a coffee to legitimize our occupation of a space in this citadel of transient community. Drifting as a Disastrous Pattern Tara had come to our church from another about two years or so ago, seeking what she called "meaningful connections" among believers her age. She was i

The Church in Exile

The Church in Exile

The experience of living in a Post-Christian culture is settling in as a reality for the contemporary North American church. The ongoing move to the margins can leave Christians feeling discouraged and even doubtful about where God is in this time of exilic experience. Why would God allow this to happen? Why does God not show his power more clearly in a time like this? How are we supposed to move forward in a time when the Christian message is losing traction in an increasing

The Attributes of Strong Leadership & Tilling the Soil

The Attributes of Strong Leadership & Tilling the Soil

Jim Collins writes that it’s not just good leadership that moves organizations or communities toward excellence, but “Level Five leadership creates the shift.” According to Collins, the two primary attributes “Level Five” leaders possess are professional will, and personal humility. By professional will, Collins is referring to both the vision a leader has of where the organization is going, and the passion to make that vision come to life. Level Five leaders hold an outward

Ebb and Flow Decision Making*

Ebb and Flow Decision Making*

Congregations within our Baptist family lean towards one of two poles while making decisions. Some elect leaders to give spiritual leadership but then reserve the right of veto through grumbling and mistrust. Others, sit back and abdicate decision making to those in the back room. In each case, outcome ownership is limited. Scripture teaches both the principle of spiritual eldership and the principle of the priesthood of believers. Healthy congregations practice both, rhythmi

Your Church Needs More Charisma. And Maybe Less.

Your Church Needs More Charisma. And Maybe Less.

My research has been in the area of megachurch leadership, and I have heard two common remarks about the charismatic leader. From congregations searching for a pastor, comes this wish: “If we could just find a dynamic, charismatic leader, our church would surely flourish!” Coming from the opposite assessment of charisma, is this critique of megachurches: “They may have a charismatic leader, but what will the congregation do when he or she abuses their power, or gets hit by a

THE SAFEST PLACE IN THE WORLD

THE SAFEST PLACE IN THE WORLD

Some years ago a friend told me that he had asked his 16 year old daughter what she considered to be the safest place in the world. She pondered this question for a few moments, and then replied, “it would have to be last month at our annual congregational retreat, when we ended by forming a large circle, holding hands, and singing “Bind us Together” acapella. I had been part of that same circle, so I spent quite a bit of time pondering her response. What was it about our co

Flourishing. Really?

Flourishing. Really?

At the outset of this research project we delineated five traits from existing literature on flourishing congregations: clear self-identity, committed leadership, desire to grow, hospitable community, and vibrant spiritual life. We loosely held these five traits as starting points for conversing with leaders across the country, not because we set out to prove and reinforce these points but rather to engage what leaders would add, emphasize, or take away from this list. This w